‘Hydel agreements in Kashmir need renegotiation’

Jammu, May 23 (IANS) Terming existing agreements on hydro-electric projects in Jammu and Kashmir as discriminatory, patron of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Wednesday asked the state government to “renegotiate” these with NHPC.

Mufti Sayeed said the people of the Chenab River Valley region, the waters of which had changed the destiny of people in the plains, were living in an “era of unending darkness”.

“This is shocking and the government must renegotiate the agreements with NHPC (formerly National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) and the benefits must flow to the people of the area,” said Sayeed.

The Chenab Valley region is the name given by Kashmiri leaders to the north-eastern part of the Jammu region including Doda, Kishtwar, and Udhampur districts through which the Chenab river flows.

There are three projects on the river namely Salal, Dul Hasti and Baglihar. There are plans to construct more power projects on the river.

Mufti Sayeed was addressing a public rally at Doda, about 175 km north-east of Jammu.

“It is our pledge that we will continue our struggle to get these discriminatory agreements revoked to make Jammu and Kashmir economically self-reliant,” he said.